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Thursday, January 31, 2013

Bellydance Basics Class 4

Here's what we covered today:


  • Intensified warm-up.
  • Quick review of our repertoire of movements so far.
  • Undulation up-to-down
  • Grapevine step
  • Chest lift breakdown
  • Our little dance so far...
Music: "Cleopatra in New York" 
You can download the music here (right-click and select Save Target As), since it's not available for purchase anywhere.

0:10 Theme
4 x 8 counts: Arm waves & Cross touch

  • Right arm wave and right foot cross - 4 counts
  • Left arm wave and left foot extends - 4 counts
  • Right arm wave and left foot cross - 4 counts
  • Left arm wave and right foot extends - 4 counts
  • repeat

0:30 Vocal
8 x 8 counts: Hip Slides & Hip Circle

  • Hip slide right - 4 counts
  • Hip slide left - 4 counts
  • Hip circle downbeat left clockwise - 8 counts
  • repeat

1:09 Theme
4 x 8 counts: Arm waves & Cross touch

1:29 Vocal
8 x 8 counts: Figure 8 D2U ¾ & Chest circle
  • Arms next to hips for Figure 8. Hands come together at chest  (elbows lifted) and open for chest circle.
  • Figure 8 D2U ¾ Half Time (8 counts: RLR, LRL)
  • Chest circle dbF cw Eight Time

2:09 Theme
4 x 8 counts: Undulation with Grapevine
  • Grapevine dbR travel L Quarter Time
  • Undulation dbF Quarter Time

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Dance inspiration: Mardi Love

Love Mardi Love. She has always been an inspiration for me... and for many of her peers as well. She has influenced the dance from costuming to music choice. Here is she is dancing in Budapest!


Sunday, January 27, 2013

TFBD Jan/Feb: Class 3 - Samaii

This is my favorite rhythm of all time... The Samaii rhythm as 10 counts to the bar.
D - r - r - T - r - D - D - T - r - r

The music we used in class is also one of my all time favorites: "Lamma Bada Yatathanna". The song is so old and has been remade many times under different names too. Another version we used was "Aman Aman" by Jehan on her "Desert Winds" album. You can read a bit more about this song from Shira.net: http://www.shira.net/music/lyrics/lamma-bada.htm

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Bellydance Basics Class 3

Here's what we covered today:
- Warm up and exercises
- Review material from classes 1 and 2.
- Figure 8's down to up.
- Our little dance so far...

Music: "Cleopatra in New York"

0:10 Theme
4 x 8 counts: Arm waves & Cross touch
  • Right arm wave and right foot cross - 4 counts
  • Left arm wave and left foot extends - 4 counts
  • Right arm wave and left foot cross - 4 counts
  • Left arm wave and right foot extends - 4 counts
  • repeat

0:30 Vocal
8 x 8 counts: Hip Slides & Hip Circle
  • Hip slide right - 4 counts
  • Hip slide left - 4 counts
  • Hip circle downbeat left clockwise - 8 counts
  • repeat

1:09 Theme
4 x 8 counts: Arm waves & Cross touch

1:29 Vocal
8 x 8 counts: Figure 8 D2U ¾ & Chest circle
  • Arms next to hips for Figure 8. Hands come together at chest  (elbows lifted) and open for chest circle.
  • Figure 8 D2U ¾ Half Time (8 counts: RLR, LRL)
  • Chest circle dbF cw Eight Time

Sunday, January 20, 2013

TFBD Jan/Feb: Class 2 - Masmoodi

Hello Dancers!


We covered the Masmoodi rhythm today. There are two of them:

Masmoodi Kabir (the big masmoodi) has 8 counts to the bar.
D - D - r - T - D - r - T - r
This is often referred to as just "Masmoodi". It's typically used in slower tempo music and is a bit "moody" in feel.


Masmoodi Saghir (the small masmoodi) has 4 counts to the bar.
DD - rT - Dr - Tr
This is sometimes referred to as the "Baladi" rhythm. It's typically used with faster tempo; a bit more bouncy with still with attitude.

"Masmoodi" can be spelled a few different ways like "masmoudi".


Friday, January 18, 2013

Bellydance Basics Class 2


Hello! Thanks for a great second class. We reviewed what we covered in Class 1 and then moved on to new material. Here's a quick recap of the new movements:

1. Exterior Hip Circles - starting from one of the four sides, right, left, front, or back. Segmenting or breaking up the circle would make these squares.
2. Walking with the hip circle - walking forward and back, side to side
3. Half Hip Circle
4. Chest Circle
5. Chest circle with a quarter turn

A new little combo:
Step together, step touch with exterior hip circles

Enjoy your practice!
Lily

Sunday, January 13, 2013

TFBD Jan/Feb : Class 1 - Wahda Kabira & Fallahi

Hello Dancers!

I'm excited to be sharing topics that are true and dear to my heart, starting with arabic rhythms!

Here are the rhythms we covered:


  • Wahda Kabira - has 8 counts to the bar and has a grand and nonchalant feel.
  • Fallahi - has 2 counts to the bar and has simple and quick feel.

We did a combo to each rhythm and began to play around with our own adaptations. Hope you enjoyed a little "improv" time!

Have a great week
Lily

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Bellydance Basics Class 1

Hello!

Thanks for a wonderful first class of this 8-week series. In summary, here is what we covered:

1. Warm-up
2. Break down of dance posture
3. Arm positions
4. Hip slides
5. Chest slides
6. Hip and Chest slides (in opposite directions)
7. Hip singles (or hip lifts)
8. Arm Waves

Combos:
1. Arm waves with cross touch
2. Hip slides RLR, half turn, Hip slides LRL, half turn
3. Full time hip singles with full time feet

Have a great weekend ... and...
See you next week!
Lily

Monday, January 7, 2013

Classes start this week!

Hello 2013! 



Let's start off the new year right with dance and shimmies! The Rakataka Dancers and I just got back from 3rd Coast Tribal Festival in Fort Worth. I had a blast taking workshops, teaching a workshop, and performing in the Saturday night show. (Here we are backstage in the dressing room with the all-inspiring Rachel Brice and Zoe Jakes.)

I'm delighted to start my new series of classes this week, starting with Belly Dance Basics on Thursday, January 10 at Cafe Dance and Tribal Fusion Belly Dance on Sunday, January 13 at Shirley McPhail School of Dance.


Don't forget to sign up.
See you soon!
Lily